SAVE OUR WOODS

Conserving a natural ‘green corridor’ from northwest Essex through Manchester to Gloucester and beyond is the goal of the 5 million dollar campaign for Land Conservation. This page will be your resource to watch the corridor grow as we proceed, parcel by parcel, project by project, to build this vision. We hope you will join with us on each adventure as they arise.

Imagine:

That the woodlands you hike and the water resources you rely upon are gone forever. Where nature once prevailed, houses, parking lots, and streetlights have become a reality.

Then imagine:

A completed continuous wildlife corridor for all to enjoy, where trees, understory, salamanders, turtles, and vernal pools will flourish.

The pristine woodlands and natural spaces within Manchester and Essex give our community its essential character. Over its 60-year history, MECT has done much to ensure the ongoing protection of these valuable assets. And yet, these properties are under renewed threats from inappropriate development. Pandemic-related pressures have driven developers large and small to seek opportunities to build housing and commercial projects on top of this important green corridor. At the same time, properties that were previously not for sale are suddenly in play. This combination puts all our prior conservation efforts at risk, making action more important now than in decades.

PROTECT OUR LAND

A core strategy to protect what we have is to expand existing perimeters with the acquisition of buffer properties and environmentally significant land wherever possible before these parcels are irrevocably altered. When necessary, we also use legal action and other means in defense of land under our stewardship.

THE TIME IS NOW

NOW is the moment for MECT to accelerate acquisitions to keep ahead of this surge in development.

MECT HAS IMPACT

Sixty years of measured and consistent effort has resulted in the permanent protection of over 1500 acres of land in Manchester and Essex. No other organization cares more about your backyard than we do.

MECT….

• Preserves in perpetuity the natural resources that sustain us.
• Protects the natural spaces that give our community its essential character.
• Provides the quiet sanctuary – undisturbed outdoor spaces that afford an intimate connection with nature – enhancing the health and well-being of all.
• Protects an important wildlife corridor that is critical to preserving Cape Ann’s biological richness and diversity.
• Demonstrates the value of conservation to a community of individuals who have the power to affect change globally, while setting an example for the next generation.

Manchester Essex Conservation Trust preserves in perpetuity the natural beauty, wildlife habitat, and open space resources in our two towns and adjacent communities.

We protect this land through acquisitions, conservation restrictions, donations, and engagement with the public. Through sharing this land, we encourage and support exploration of nature, education, and scientific study.